“I've always felt in the middle of hearing people and the Deaf community.” What is it like to grow up with hearing loss?

Abstract

Objective: Hearing loss in children and adolescents can significantly impact social interactions, language development, and emotional well-being, often leading to academic and mental health challenges. This qualitative, retrospective study examines how individuals reflect on their experiences growing up with hearing loss, including the challenges they faced, the support they received, and the coping strategies they developed over time. Design and study sample: Participants aged 16 and older with personal experiences of hearing loss were recruited through audiology services in England and Scotland (UK), as well as community and online channels. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted in person or online, following a flexible approach to explore participants’ retrospective accounts of growing up with hearing loss. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify, refine, and review themes, ensuring diverse perspectives were captured through collaborative analysis. Results: Interrelated themes were identified from participants’ reflections of growing up with hearing loss, showing how they continually adapt and reshape their experiences as part of an ongoing coping and adjustment process across various social contexts. Conclusions: This study highlights the lasting impacts of growing up with hearing loss on communication, social relationships, emotional well-being, and education.